The Southland Times. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 253, 7 May 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1866.

In most small communities especially in the colonies it frequently happens that a chronic excitement is got up and a party feeling created, for the purpose of accomplishing some particular end- The public in many cases are led to embrace erroneous views, which in their calmer moments, they would acknowledge, "approachedd charlatanism. It is now some months since that a party manifestation became conspicuous in Southland. The subject upon which a strong party feeling was aroused was said to be that abuses existed in the Eailway Department,, requiring the interference of the Provincial Council. It was contended thatthe Government that could permit the very, large claim of the Railway Engineer to be submitted to arbitration was not deserving of the confidence of the public, and ought therefore to be dispossessed of power. No one can deny that this was a fair subject for debate, and the result which followed the resignation of the Ministry— -allayed the popular feeling. Men felt the programme of the Cuthbertson cum Blacklock Ministry was all that could be expected ; it gave an earnest that all that lay in its power would be done to redeem the mistakes of the past, and a determination to avoid as much as possible new ones. But the course which has been adopted by a small and extreme section of politicians we cannot but deem highly reprehensible. This class, small as it is, has . its representatives in the Council — men who, with the^ best intentions, have foolishly hugged the idea that they only were the descendants of " the honest man of the tub," and that all others were rogues and imbiciles. With a suspicion as unmanly as it is ungenerous they went into the Council, not to calmly review the past in order" to improve the future, but with the avowed intention of heaping censure upon the late Government for sins they had never committed, andthey have to an exent played their parts well ; they have shown more earnestness in the work of knocking down than skill in building up. During the session the present Government have been charged with all kinds of blundering and evident incapacity, and yet they have not been in office three months. TBut by whom have they been so blamed ? Is it by those who think and collect evidence before they speak upon subjects of pplitical import ? No ; it has been from these who give importance to vehement agitation— the sounding brass and tinkling symbol school of politicians, who have been the loudest in their censure, and the mostungenerous in their strictures, and what does it end in ? After much breath has been wasted, and angry feeling created, the unanimous verdict is that, under the circumstances, Government have done the best that could be done. The session may be considered at a close. It has been short but not unimportant; although there has not been a Ministerial crisis. The present Ministry came into office at the end of last session; and, notwithstanding we consider the late Ministry were somewhat unjustly dealt with, no doubt the change has been productive of good. The feeling outside the Hoase was that of mistrust; the Railway Department was looked upon as being grossly mismanaged, aiid a strong feeling existed that the ,then Govermaent wore

to blame for it ; and it was desirable that the matter should be cleared up that tha public mind should be tran'quilised by ne investigation, and to this end a change was desired. It was to accomplish this that Mr Cttthbebtson and his colleaguetook office, . and they earnestly entered into the work, and the result is that the subjeethas been thoroughly ventilated, the late Ministry proved to have been more sinned against than' sinning, and the public convinced that all that could be accomplished towards, relieving past blunders has been attempted. Mr Cuthbektson has retired, feeling that the work he undertook has been done, and that the public could no longer expect him to sacrifice his private interests by continuing in office. Though the ordinances passed have been few, they are not unimportant. The railway leasing ordinances are espeoially commendable. It is essential that the railways should be completed, and put in thorough working order, and the plan adopted to ensure this being done, will, we nope, prove successful. The retirement of Mr Cuthbertson from the Ministry, will necessitate its reconstruction, and it is to lie hoped that the Executive will be so formed as to secure the confidence of every class of the community — that the party feeeling which? has latterly been bo painfully conspicuous will die a natural death.